Statewide conference coming to Jefferson

August 24, 2012

Join Preservation Alliance of West Virginia during its statewide historic preservation conference, and learn from the tradition of historic preservation throughout Jefferson County. This year's conference theme is "Sharing Stories, Learning Lessons: Truth & Triumph in Historic Preservation." It's little wonder why Preservation Alliance of West Virginia partnered with the Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission to offer this year's statewide historic preservation conference in Jefferson County, September 27-29, 2012. With almost 2,000 historic resources, the county has a notable preservation track record for saving historic places. During the conference, attendees will intimately explore some of these places including several Washington Family Homes, the downtown Shepherdstown historic district and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Attendees will participate in a hands-on masonry workshop, walking and driving tours, educational concurrent sessions, an awards banquet and the Preservation Alliance of WV annual meeting over the three-day period.

Jefferson County's proximity to the Baltimore-Washington D.C. metro area has enabled Preservation Alliance of West Virginia to bring experts from all over the country to West Virginia. Attendees will have a rare chance to learn from nationally-renowned preservationists in their own backyard. From Seattle, WA, John G. Williams, a member of the United State Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, will give a full-day educational workshop that will debunk outdated myths about historic preservation while focusing on the economics of historic preservation. Ed McMahon, Senior Resident Fellow at the Urban Land Institute will give a unique keynote presentation during the historic preservation awards dinner banquet on Friday where preservation achievements in West Virginia will also be celebrated. McMahon is the former vice president and director of Land Use Planning for the Conservation Fund where he helped to protect more than 5 million acres of historic and naturally significant land.

Session presenters like professional archaeologists Dr. Kim and Dr. Stephen McBride will join us from Kentucky. Donna Harris, author of New Solutions for House Museums, will travel from Pennsylvania, and Saturday's keynote, William Frazier is an architectural historian from Virginia.

Concurrent educational sessions will be held at the Quality Hotel and Conference Center in Harpers Ferry and Claymont Court in Charles Town. Sessions will highlight heritage tourism, organizational development and preservation skills with topics including historical archeology, historic house museums, preservation technological tools and battlefield preservation. Additionally, American Planning Association certified planners can earn 3.75 certificate maintenance credits during the conference.

For those not interested in attending educational sessions, there are free activities as well. Visit the exhibitor space for a chance to meet historic preservation authors or organizational leaders, enjoy a tour of historic Shepherdstown led by Shepherd University's Dr. Keith Alexander or show off networking skills by playing along during the preservation scavenger hunt. There will be so much to do and see!

For more information on the schedule and fees for the conference, visit www.pawv.org, email info@pawv.org, or call 304.345.6005.